Rev. Joshua

Sometimes when finishing and proofing my sermons on Saturday nights I find it helpful to click over and read something else for a while.

Imagine reading several threads here and then returning to proofread a Christian homily that it to be preached on the next day! It's quite a contrast, and something of a helpful exercise in remembering the perspective of the skeptics in the congregation.

Joshua

hezekiah jones

That sounds encouraging.

So what sort of career do you expect to pursue once you finally abandon your religion for good?

Bible Humper

Hello Rev. Joshua

That is an interesting way to go about it!
What types of topics do you find the best for this?

Whoah! Talk about a loaded question!

Buffman

Personally, I have read a fair number of Rev. Joshua's posts here and elsewhere, and believe that whatever homily he might preach would extend beyond the superficiality of a specific religious characterization. (At least I hope it would.) Oh, it might be dressed in a Christian robe, but there can be an interesting thing about homilies. The good ones can actually edify practical matters that have universal applications well beyond the subjective adjectives used to modify them. That seems to be a limitation that too many of us have. The inability to see the "noun" because of the "modifying adjective."

DMB

Dear Rev J: On the few occasions when I go to church, I either turn off completely for the sermon (if it's low-level rubbish) or listen attentively (if it's got something interesting to say).

But I have always felt that the interesting sermons deserve questions, replies and argument. It seems to me that the whole idea of a preacher standing up and telling people what to think without feedback is rather limited. What do you feel?

Vorkosigan

That's basic presentation teaching: first thing I teach my presentation students: bring the audience in. Involve them. Ask them questions. Draw on their experiences.

I also recommend using props. If you are talking about the development of the canon, bring in a replica scroll. If you talking about teenage sex, bring in a condom. If it's smoking, smoke right there. Bring things you can pass around the audience.

Another issue I've always had with sermons is the lack of movement. We had some pretty good young priests who would come down into the audience when I was a kid, but too many reverends nail their feet to the floor behind the podium. You watch those guys on TV, they never stand still. Their bodies are instruments on which they play their speeches.

Hey, when you guys are in the seminary, how much practical training did you get in the manufacture and delivery of sermons?

HelenM

I agree!

Don't you give feedback, then?

I'm guessing my pastor gets a lot of feedback

Josh since you read here and seem to be the kind of person who would listen to what is said here, I expect you have a much better understanding of where skeptics are coming from than many Christians do.

Were you ever a more conservative Christian? Or were you always a liberal one, since you've been one at all? I'm just curious.

love
Helen

DMB

Helen: the only churches I am in these days are CofE or catholic. In neither is arguing encouraged.

HelenM

I didn't say 'arguing'. I don't think that arguing is particularly effective.

There are many ways to give feedback

If you meant that the leaders do not want to hear anything except assent and praise - that even graciously given constructive criticism is discouraged - then I'd say they are limiting their own opportunities to learn and grow individually and as a church, from the feedback of people who attend. But I suppose that's their choice.

love
Helen

Rev. Joshua

The sermon is only one part of the worship service, and the Sunday morning worship service as a whole is only one part of the life and worship of a faith community. There should be plenty of opportunities for theological give and take, but the homily is the 15-20 min. period during worship when a trained theologian who is familiar with the pastoral care issues and theological questions within his/her faith community reflects on those issues within the context of Scripture and the traditions of the faith.

Joshua